On 20 November 2019, judicial police agents arrested Wopinase and his accomplices at Lalara. During his interrogation, Wopinase a Cameroonian individual declared that he was in relationship with Diallo and others and succeeded to collect three bags of ivory that he hid in the bush. Wopinase contacted his friend Mbongo owner of a vehicle to help Diallo removed the tusks from the bush and transport them. On the same day, Wopinase also invited Nguiabe and Djetola to accompany him at Lalara with the tusks inside his vehicle. Once at hotel at Lalara, he introduced them to Mbongo and Diallo and commissioned Djetola to give the parcel that was in his vehicle to his owner Hassan. When interrogated, Nguiabe declared that when informed that it was an ivory transaction he opposed it knowing it was illegal. They were all arrested for possession and transport of 27 ivory tusks weighing 128.4 kg.
The Public Prosecutor and the National Directorate of Wildlife and Protected Areas rep/Mekui Allogo Aimé vs Wopinase Ayafor Roddy, Mbongo Christian, Djetola Djoel Michel, Nguiabe Arsène
Country
Territorial subdivision
Type of court
Seat of court
Libreville
Court jurisdiction
Date of opinion
2020
Abstract
Language of document
French
Reference number
Decision No 004/2019-2020
Charges
Transport and possession of ivory tusks, complicity of transport of ivory tusks.
Species
Transnational
Yes
Decision
Mbongo Christian was declared guilty to complicity of possession of ivory tusks; Nguiabe Arsene and Djetola Djoel Michel were declared not guilty of transport of ivory tusks; Wopinase Ayafor was declared not guilty of transport of ivory tusks and guilty of possession of ivory tusks.
Appealed
No
Penalty
Wopinase Ayafor was sentenced to five years imprisonment including two years suspended; XAF 32,000,000 (thirty-two million) as fines; Wopinase and Mbongo were sentenced to pay XAF 5,000,000 (five million) as civil damages and to pay costs.